Details
Master Thesis project 2021
Product and UI/UX design
In collaboration with EGGS Design, scientists at Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, and Nordic Seafarm.
Challenge
Today’s food production is not sustainable and there’s a need for a resilient and restorative food production model, creating carbon low food. One solution is seaweed farming - a regenerative way of farming, where seaweed is cultivated together with other species, like mussels and shellfish, in underwater gardens.
The obstacles are that, in Sweden, there’s a lack of knowledge about seaweed, we are not used to eating it and it’s hard to find in stores.
Solution
My solution is Blue Garden - a scalable service that is introducing seaweed as food, thus supporting seaweed farmers, in order to reduce our climate impact and restore ecosystems.
The main goal of the project was to normalise the use of seaweed in Sweden. Blue Garden creates the prerequisites that lower the user’s thresholds and make it happen! By making seaweed accessible as food and providing inspiration, engagement, knowledge and support in one service.
VIDEO
Summary of the project
“”Our food is gonna be the most affordable food on the planet and the reason is the climate economy””
How to design a consumer-oriented product solution that, through guidance and simple tools, introduces the user to seaweed and seaweed cultivation?
WHY IS THIS TOPIC RELEVANT NOW?
Project Drawdown is the world’s leading resource for climate solutions. In the sector Coastal and ocean sinks they present two vital solutions for reaching the Paris agreement - both included in this topic, making it extremely relevant.
1. Protect and restore ecosystems - including mangroves, salt marshes, and sea grass meadows that supports ongoing photosynthesis and carbon storage.
2. Shift agriculture practices - select regenerative practices may augment natural carbon sequestration from seaweed and kelp, while growing fibre and food from the sea.
CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT?
Continue further down to view some Research-findings, the Final concept, pictures from the Design process and Learning outcomes
RESEARCH
Cooking, eating and introducing kelp
Cooking and introducing different kelp dishes for friends. The picture shows the main course. The dessert consisted of a kelp brownie with ice cream. All dishes got high kelp scoring!
Cooking and serving an Asian inspired noodle salad with kelp and tofu, to my family. It was very appreciated even though they were doubtful before. The kelp was picked by me the same morning next to the dinner spot.
video
Exploring and picking kelp on the Swedish West Coast
FINAL CONCEPT
The main goal of the project was to normalize the use of seaweed in Sweden. In order to do that, I had to introduce it in an engaging and attractive way, lowering the user’s thresholds. This is achieved by a Try-out kit and an adoption idea with a ”remote farming experience”.
Try-out kit
The Try-out kit works like a door opener to the world of seaweed! It allows the curious user to try out cooking with different seaweed products, using step-by-step recipes and tutorials (found in the app).
Three physical recipes are included in the kit, and for the more engaged person there is also a recipe library and tutorials in the app, which can be reached by scanning a QR code on the box. The seaweed included in the kit is both products to test directly, and the raw form of seaweed to use in cooking. All seaweed products are packaged in an edible plastic, called Notpla, made out of seaweed, and in the bottom of the box some funny seaweed facts are hidden.
Remote farming experience
The service allows users to adopt a part of a seaweed cultivation, a Blue Garden, in order to receive its harvest. The Blue Garden app enables a “remote farming experience” where the user can follow the growth of the seaweed, while the nature and farmer are doing the work. The user has the opportunity to see the current state in the cultivation process, the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed, the current size of the seaweed, its growth graph, as well as pictures and videos of it. The seaweed farmers are uploading this information to the app and making the consumers feel included in the process.
A community network
A community network is included in the service, making it more inclusive. It’s a neutral space for inspiration and engagement, where users can support each other and contribute with insights, tips and tricks, and with seaweed recipes from different cultures.
The Blue garden app
DESIGN PROCESS
Ideation workshops
the design process in the home studio
User testing - experience & packaging
Learning outcome
Improved skills in UX design
UI design and improved skills in Adobe XD
Service design and creating a Service Blue Print
Research and interview techniques
Improved skills in many areas like: Research, ideation, workshop methods, making UI-prototypes, user testing, conceptualizing, story telling and animating in Adobe After Effects and by collaborating with a company